Control device



A. K. FCULDS CONTROL DEVICE i Filed Jan. 3, 1933 Dec. 6, 1938.

Fing 1A Patented Dec. 6, 1938 PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE Andrew K.Foulds, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Mich., assignor to DetroitLubricator Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication January 3, 1933, Serial No. 649,940

10 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in control devices,and4 more particularly to a device for maintaining a substantiallyconstant liquid level.

An object of my invention is to provide a control device which isoperable to maintain a substantially constant head of liquid for supplyto a burner, for example, and in which asafety means is provided toinsure closing of the constant level valve if the level of liquidincreases above the 4predetermined desired level.v This safety` meansvcomprises a float which is respon- -sive to increase of liquid levelabove the predetermined level.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combinationofparts, to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of whichwill be particularly pointedout and dis- `tinctly claimed.

2 0 In the accompanying drawing, to lbe taken as apart ofthis.specification, I have fully and clearly illustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention,A in which drawing- Y Figure 1 is a view insection on the line |-I of Fig. 2 of the control device embodying myinvention; and

Fig. 2 is a view in section on the line 2'2 o! Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, I designates,generally, a casing containing a chamber or reservoir 2 and having abottom wall 3 from which rises a continuous surrounding wall 4. 'Throughthe bottom wall 3 there is an aperture 5 in which is positioned an inletmember 6 which projects into the chamber 2 and also extends below thebottom wall 3. This member 6is provided with an upwardly facing shoulder1 which engages the under face of the bottom wall 3 and which is clampedthereto by a nut, or the like, 8 positioned within the chamber 2 andscrew-threaded onto the member 6. The member 6 has a passage 9therethrough which comprises the inlet to the chamber 2 and which isenlarged as at I0 to provide a valve chamber, and which also provides anupward facing shoulder I0 defining a valve seat. Screw threaded, orotherwise secured, within the chamber I0 is a sleeve member having alateral flange I2 at its upper end which overlies the upper end of themember 6. Supported on the member 6 is a supporting means or bracket I3having a base portion I4 which is pertured to receive the sleeve memberand vwhich is clamped betweenv l the flange I2 and the member 6. Theinlet end of the passage 9 is provided with a strainer I5 and anexternally threaded nipple I6 by which the control device may beconnected to a source of liquid supply. Within the chamber I0 there is avalve member I1 guided for reciprocation in a spider, or the like, I8rigidly supported by 5 the sleeve member The valve member I1 is providedat its oppositeends with valve faces I9 and 2|).` The valve face 20cooperates with the shoulder IllL to control the passage 9 and the valveface I9 cooperates with a downward l0 facing shoulder "2| which providesa valve seat vformed by a reduction inthe diameter of the bore throughthe sleeve member Il. The valve member I1 has a stem 22 which extendsupwardly through the bore in the sleeve member II and 15 preferablyterminates above the top of the cham-- ber 2. Rigidly secured on thestem 22 is a collar,

or the like, 23 having opposed vertically spaced flanges 24 and 25 whichreceive one end26 of an operating Yarm or lever 21 which is pivotallysup- 20 ported or. fulcrumed on a shaft 23 supported at its ends in thearms of the supporting means I3. The other end A23 of thejleverY 21carries a float 30 which is preferably rigidly secured thereto.Therilange 25 is preferably longitudinally mov- 25 able on the member 23and is heldin engagement with the lever 26 by a coil spring 3| which isheld under compression between the flange 25 and a shoulder 32 on themember 23. The flange 32 is preferably carried by a nut screw-threaded30 onto the end of member 23. The iloat 30 on` downward movement actsthrough the lever 21 and iiange`24 to raise the valve face 2D from itsseat lll but the extent to which the valve face 20 may be lifted by theoat 30 is limited by a stop 35 member 3|)a preferably rigid with one ofthe arms of the supporting member I3. This member 3|!lil projectsbeneath the lever 21 and serves to limit the downward movement of thelever end 29 by the float 30 but due to the spring 3| the stem 22 40 mayhave further upward movement suilicient to engage the valve face I9 withits seat 2| to close the inlet 9.

The reservoir 2 is provided with a cover or closure member 33 preferablyseating on and 45 secured to a lateral surrounding flange 34 formed atthe top edge of the wall 4. The cover member 33 has an extension 35which projects beyond the flange 34 and which has downwardly directed,substantially parallel, supporting arms 36. Sup 50 ported by the arms 36is a hollow casing or container 31 which comprises an overflow chamber.The container 31 has oppositely positioned supporting arms 3B whichextend upwardly into cooperable relation with the arms 36 and which are55 pivotally secured thereto by pins, or the like, 39. The wall 4 has anaperture 40 in winch is secured an overflow spout, or the like, 4I whichprojects through a slot 42 in the side wall of the container 31, th-eslot being open at its upper end so that the container may be swungoutward for emptying. Above the member 4I the side wall 4 is providedwith a substantially vertical opening 43 through which a lever member 44projects. The lever member 44 has reinforcing, depending, side flanges45 and has laterally extending, oppositely directed arms or trunnions46. The side wall 4 has oppositely positioned apertures 41 which receivethe ends of the :arms 46 and in which the lever is supported forrockingmovement. The end of the lever within the chamber 2 is tapered as at 48and receives a spring cup 49 against which one end of a helical coilspring 59 seats. The other end of the spring 59 seats against a cupmember 5I which bears against an adjustable abutment member 52 rigidwith the wall 4. This member 52 is preferably in the'form of anadjustable screw having aconical end 53 and screw-threaded in a sleevemember 54 rigidly. fixed in the wall 4. The spring 59 is undercompression so that its force, which may be regulated by the screw 52,normally acts to hold theV lever 44 in ythe position shown in which `theflanges 45 are in engagement with the bottom edge of the opening 43which serves as a stop, to .limit movement of the lever 414. The .stem22 extends through'a longitudinal slot 55 in Lthe Ilever 44v and hasrigidly secured thereto above the lever, 44 an abutment member 56. Theother Cipelln rand outside ofthe casing I terminates .vertical bore 63therethrough which receives thel rod 6I for retaining and guiding thefloat 62..

The cover .member 33 is provided with an aperturein line with the stem22 and in which is fixed a guide sleeve 64 which -surrounds lthe upperend of the stem 22, the stem 22 projecting thereabove, as `at 65, sothat it may be manually operated. Thevcasing I is provided withasupporting bracket 66 having an aperture 61 therethrough to receive themember 6. 'Ihe bracket 66is rigidly clamped to the casing I by a nut 68screw-threaded onto the member 6. The reservoir 2 is provided with anoutlet 69 which opens through the bottom wall 3 and which is preferablycontrolled by a manually adjustable valve having a stem 10.

The operation of my control device is as follows: When the inlet 9 hasbeen connected at the nipple I6 to a source of supply and the outlet 69has been connected to a point of discharge such as a burner, forexample, liquid will enter the chamber 2 through the open passage 9since the valve faces 20 and I9 are each out of engagement with theirrespective seats. As the level of liquid rises in the chamber 2, thefloat 30 will be lifted and acting through the lever 21 upon the collarflange 25 will move the valve face 29 toward inlet closing position.When the predetermined deslred level has been reached in the chamber 2,

the float 39 will seat the valve I1 against its seat IllEt and close thepassage 9. This lever will be maintained substantially constant by theoat 39 which serves on any decrease in the lever to open the valve I1with respect to its seat 80a. If the valve face 2I l fails to seal thepassage 9 so that the level in the chamber 2 .continues to increase,then when the level in the chamber reaches the height of the overowspout 4I liquid will discharge from the chamber 2 into the container 31.As the liquidlevel rises in the container 31, the float 62 will risewith it and acting against the flange 60 will move the rod 59 upward.Upward movement of the rod 59 will carry with it the end 51 of the lever44,' turning the lever 44 about its fulcrum on the arms 46. When thelever 44 has moved upward sufficient to carry the point of engagementbetween the lever and the spring 50 overcenter, the force of the springwill act to quickly move the lever 44 upward against the abutment member56. The quicklymoving lever 44 will sharply impact the valve stemthrough the medium of the abutment member 56 and will carry the stem 22and its valve member I1 upward to seat the valve face I9 against seat 2|with a driving force, thereby tightly to close the passage 9. Upwardmovement of the stem 22 is permitted by the longitudinally movableflange 25 even though the lever 21 be in 'engagement with the stop 3l]ELor the resistance of the iloat 39 to immersion be sufficient to'resis't4movement vof the lever 21 by the spring 50. After the valve has beenclosed by operation of the float 62, the .container 31 may be emptied byswinging the container 31 outward or away' fromfthe casing i von itssupportingmembers 39 to pour the liquid therefrom, When the cause offailure ofthe float 39 to `function has been remedied, the device can beplaced again in normal operation' by returning l' the container tovertical position and by manually y moving the lever 44'into theposition shown in Figure 2. Y vWhat I claim and' desire to secure byLetters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. A device of the character described, com- `prisinga casing havingv areservoir with an inlet and an outlet, means controlling said inlet,said means having a stem, a oat having a lostmotion connection with saidstem and 'operable to maintaina. substantially constant liquid level insaid reservoir, a lever cooperable with said stem to close said inlet,overcenter means acting von said lever, said last-named means exertingits constant level and operable to move said over-- center meansovercenter, said lost-motion connection permitting movement of said stemrelative to said first-named float upon engagement of said lever withsaid stem.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having areservoir with an inlet and an outlet, means controlling said inlet,said means having a stem, a oat operatively connected to said stem andoperable to maintain a. substantiallyY constant liquid level in saidreservoir, a leverengageable with said stem to move said means to closesaid inlet, a spring disposed within said reservoir and having one endfixed to said casing and having its other end engaging said lever, thepoint of engagement between said spring and said lever being movableovercenter, said lever having an end portion projecting exteriorly ofthe casing, said spring normally acting to maintain said lever inactive,said spring acting on movement overcenter to close said inlet, and a4float responsive to a predetermined increase of liquid level above saidconstant level and cooperable with said lever, said secondnamed iloatacting on movement to move the point of engagement between said springand said lever overcenter whereby said spring will act to close saidinlet, said projecting portion of said lever serving as a manuallyoperable means for positioning said spring in its inactive position andfor positioning said spring in its active position.'

, 3. A device of the character described, comprising a casing having areservoir with an inlet and an outlet, means controlling said inlet,supporting means in said reservoir, a lever having operative engagementwith said controlling means and fulcrumed on said supporting means, aoat positioned in said reservoir and carried by said lever, said Yiloatacting to maintain a substantially constant liquid level in saidreservoir,`

alever member fulcrumed intermediate its ends in said casing, anadjustable abutment member projecting from a side waliof said casing andpositioned in opposed relation to one end of said lever member, ahelical coil spring positioned between said abutment member and saidlever member end and held under lcompression therebetween, the point ofengagement between said spring and said lever member being .movableovercenter, said lever member being movable into cooperable engagementwith said controlling moana-and a second iloat responsive to apredetermined increase oi'. liquid level above said constant level andcooperable with said member,

said second iloatl acting on movement to move said spring overcenterwhereby to move said controlling means to close said inlet.

4. In a liquid level control device, a casing hav- E ing a chamber forliquid and an inlet port therefor, a valve controlling said port andhavingv a stem portion, a iloatin said chamber operable in response tochanges in liquid level therein to actuate said valve to maintain a`substantially constant liquid level in said chamber, a lever fulcrumedwithin said casing and having one end connected to said iloat, and acoil spring surrounding said valve stem and carried thereby with one endacting on said valve stem and the other end acting on the other end ofsaid lever.

5. In a liquid level control device, a casing havinga chamber for liquidand an inlet port therefor, a valve member controlling said port andhaving a stem portion extending vertically upward therefrom, said valvestem portion having a ange member integral therewith, a float in saidchamber operable in response to changes in liquid level therein tooperate said valve mem- 1 ber to maintain a substantially constantliquid level in said chamber, a lever fulcrumed within said chamber andhaving one end connected to said iioat, a flange member surrounding saidstem portion and movable longitudinally relative thereto, the other endof said lever being disposed between said ilange members for bearingthereagainst to actuate said valve member, spring means urging saidmovable flange member toward said flrst-namedsilange member, and

oat liperated means operable in response to an 'increase in liquid levelto a predetermined level for moving said valve member to closedposition.

6. In a liquid level control device having a chamber for liquid and aninlet passage therefor, a valve member controlling said passage andhaving an upwardly extending stem portion, said stem portion having alateral iiange member, a iloat in said chamber actuating said valvemember to maintain the liquid level substantially con'- s'tant, a leverfulcrumed within said casing with one end connected to said float andthe other end disposed for engagement with the underside oi said ilangemember, a coil spring surrounding said valve member with one end fixedrelative thereto and the other end urging said lastnamed lever endtoward said ilange member, said spring serving to operatively connectsaid oat and said valve member without lost motion therebetween whenthe-'level of the liquid is maintained substantially constant, abutmentmeans on said stem portion and a safety cut-od means including anormally inactive lever member disposed in spaced relation to saidabutment means and operable upon a predetermined increase in liquidlevel above the substantially constant level for engaging said abutmentmeans and moving said valve member to close said passage, a float foractuating said safety cut-oir means, said spring permitting relativemovement between the valve member and said ilrst-named float when saidvalve member is actuated by said lever member.

7. A liquid level control device comprising a casing having a reservoirfor liquid, iloat operated valve means eilective to maintain asubstantially constant liquid level in said reservoir, safety cut-offmechanism operable to stop admission of liquid to said reservoir uponrise of liquid level insaid reservoir to a predetermined level abovesaid constant level, lever mechanism having a part within said reservoirand operable upon movement to move said valve means to stop admission ofliquid to said reservoir, means within said reservoir operable to holdsaid lever mechanism in inactive position, liquid level responsive meansoperable upon occurrence of said 'predetermined liquid level to movesaid holding means to release said lever mechanism so that said levermechanism will act to move said valve means, said lever mechanism havingmeans projecting exteriorly of said casing, said projecting means beingoperable upon movement in one di` rection to position said levermechanism in its -said inactive position and being also operable uponmovement in another direction to move said holding means thereby torelease said lever mechanism so that said lever mechanism will move andhold said valve means in position to stop admission of liquid to'saidreservoir.

8. A device of the character described, comprising a casing containing aconstant level chamber having an inlet and an outlet, means having astem and controlling said inlet, said stem having a bearing surface, anoveriiow chamber adjacent said constant level chamber, said casinghaving a wall separating said chambers, said wall having an overilowpassageway establishing communication between said chambers,

'a removable cover member secured on said casing and overlying saidchambers, a normally inactive lever pivotally supported within saidcasing and positioned for movement into engagement with said stembearing surface Vto move said stem thereby to close said inlet, a. floatmember in said overflow chamber, means holding 4 2,139,616 l l l saidlever in spaced relation to said bearing surface and in inactiveposition, said holding means having operative connection with said floatmember and releasable by said float member upon ITT) overflow into'saidoveriiow chamber, a iioat member in said constant level chamber, asecond lever pivotally supported in said casing and carrying saidsecond-named iioat member, and a lateral projection on said stem andcooperable with said second-named lever whereby said second-named iioatmember can actuate said controlling means, said stem beingmovablerelative to said secondnamed lever upon operation of saidcontrolling means by sai-d first-named lever..

9. A device of the character described, comprising a casing containing aconstant level chamber having an inlet and an outlet, controlling meanshaving a stem'and controlling said inlet, said stem having a bearingsurface, an overow chamber adjacent said constant level chamber, saidcasing having a wall' separating said chambers, said wall having anoverflow passageway establishing communication between said chambers, aremovable cover member secured on said casing and overlying saidchambers, normally inactive lever means pivotally supported withinsaidcasing and having a part positioned adjacent said bearing surfacefor movement into engagement with said stem bearing surface to i'novesaid stem thereby to close said inlet, a floatmember in saidoverflowchamberH a spring having one end fixed, said spring acting onsaid lever means and voperable to urge said controlling means to closedposition upon movement of said lever means, said float member hav- APatent 2,159,616.

It is hereby certified that error appears= inthe lprinted specification;of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows; -age 2k,second `v1 column', lines 2 fand it, for 'the word "lever" read level;:line"55, claim for hof" read on; page 5, first column, line )4.11,claim 5', beiore the worl "member" insertI lever;` and second column,line claim 6, after ."portion. insert a comme; andi-.hat the saidLetters Patent shouldbe read with ch-17's? CERTIFICATE or ooRREoTAIoN'.v

ANDREWK.` roULDsj.

ing operative connection withsaid lever means so that said lever meanswill be moved upon overflow into said overflow chamber, a oat member insaid constant level chamber, a second lever pivotally supported in saideasing and carrying said second-named float member, anda lateralprojection on said stem and cooperable with said second-named leverwhereby said second-named oat member can actuate said controlling means,r

said stem being movable relative to said secondnamed lever uponoperation of said controlling means by said lever means.

10. In a liquid level control device having a reservoir in Awhich liquidis normally maintained and an inactive position, meanswithin saidreservoir normally holding said lever in its inactive` position, a iioatoperable for moving said holding means to release said lever for suchmovement of its said armupon increase in liquid to a predetermined levelabove said substantially constant level, said leverhaving an end portionextending exteriorly of the reservoir and serving as` a manuallyoperable means for positioning ,the

lever in its inactive position and for also pbsitioning'sa'id leverQlnits active position holding said valve in closed position'.

Dessiner. ,a '1958- L correction the rein that the same may conform tothe record of the easdlnlif the`Patent Office. l

Signed and sealed this 7th day of February, A. D. 1959.

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale'f Acting Commis sioner of Patents.

